Things are finally starting to get back to normal in the new
year, or the new normal. It seems like the changes are happening fast enough so
that boomers like me can actually notice that normal changes at least yearly.
For younger generations, change is normal, so noticing it is probably like
noticing air. Maybe it’s that the change I notice is comprehensive and involves
major forces like climate, globalization and communication. Staying up with
that kind of change requires energy and a serious commitment. Solving these
problems means all hands on deck, so I’m not too worried about staying active.
There will always be a need for a fresh oar, even if it's aged.

D12 – This Thursday, Jan. 17, 7-8:30, a conversation about
the idea of making our neighborhood a Transition Town will be held at the
Methodist Church. This forum, sponsored by the D12 Energy Resilience Group will
explore ways to achieve the goals of rebuilding resiliency and reducing C02
emissions. For more information, visit the D12 website. www.sapcc.org…the Neighborhood Progressive
Dinner is coming up on Feb. 23. You can download the registration form on the
D12 website. I am a huge fan of this event and have met and gotten to know some
fascinating and lovely folks because of it.

Schools – Also this Thursday at 7pm, Murray Jr. High will
host interested students and parents for information sharing and school tours.
The incoming 6th graders will have their own area of the school for
most of their classes but will join 7th & 8th graders
for electives. Not quite sure if the former 6th grade teachers from
the elementary schools will move over to Murray but it looks like all the
current Murray faculty will stay and some new teachers will be hired for 6th
grade. There’s much more on the sapsablog.com site supported by StAP Elementary
School, so visit it if you want to know more about the transition. Special
thanks to those volunteers and staff who served on the transition committee to
help make things go as smoothly as possible. Sounds like it’s going well so
far. There’s also info on the Murray web site…Como High Como Staff and students
are taking part in 27 Acts of Kindness to pay tribute to the 27 victims who
lost their lives in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Listserv – the St. Paul Police Department monthly crime
report seems to indicate things have been relatively calm in the new year aside
from a few thefts…neighbors have been talking about a response to the recent
violence. A number of emails have suggested various ways to support safe
communities but no meeting has been scheduled as of yet. I expect one will
surface soon, so keep your eyes and ears open…several neighbors have reported
seeing a white car driving around with someone inside taking pictures of homes.
There was a suggestion it might be Google but apparently Google has a
recognizable car with a mounted camera.

StAPnotes - Music in
the Park Series will Feature David Finckel, cello & Wu Han,
piano, Sunday, January 27,
4pm. As “America’s power couple of chamber music,” they will play
works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Debussy, as well as the rarely performed Sonata
for Cello by Benjamin Britten…the Goldstein Museum of Design is throwing a party celebrating an exhibition: Redefining Redesigning
Fashion: Designs for Sustainability, Friday January 18th from 6-8pm in
McNeal Hall. Food by Chow Girls, music by The Greenwood Tree.

About Me

Jon Schumacher - Executive Director

Hi, I'm Jon Schumacher, the Executive Director of the Saint Anthony Park Community Foundation. The Foundation's role is to understand our community needs, bring people together to help find solutions and then support their implementation. I am the point person for that and the blog is my way of keeping my board and neighbors up-to-date on all that is happening around District 12.